Envisioning Salish Sea House

Imagine that it is 2028. The first adult family home is about to open within the town center, accessible to the post office, the library, the International Market Place, the community center and community gardens. There are gardens where residents will grow whatever they like; schoolchildren will come visit in the afternoon. The front door to this home invites visitors to enter. Within is a great room with a fireplace, comfortable chairs, sofas and a communal kitchen and dining table. Surrounding this are six ensuites, each with their own large window, beautiful light flooding the room and soon to be filled with the treasures that the first six residents will bring with them to make their rooms their own.

Our nonprofit, Salish Sea House, was founded to meet this need – by establishing an adult family home in Point Roberts that will allow residents to age in place, surrounded by the beauty of our peninsula and the people they love.

This spring, we conducted a community-wide survey to gauge public opinion and gather insights about senior care needs. The response was heartening, with over 188 residents participating, aged 18 to over 70. Of the participants, 71 percent were in the age group 50-90.

Here’s what we learned:

• 63 percent of respondents support building an adult family home in Point Roberts.
• 80 percent said they or someone close to them would likely need local senior care within the next 10 years.
• 50 percent emphasized the importance of staying in Point Roberts rather than relocating for care.

These numbers reflect a powerful truth: Our community wants to care for its elders here at home.

An adult family home is a small, residential facility licensed to care for up to six adults. It provides a home-like setting with personalized attention, meals, activities and support with daily living. Our inspiration is The Green House Project’s “best in class” cultural transformation of senior care living. For more information, visit greenhouseproject.org.

Salish Sea House is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, and our mission is to build and operate a home that will serve Point Roberts seniors regardless of income. For more information, to get involved, or donate, please contact us at prsalishseahouse@gmail.com or call/text Galen Wood at 303/378-5393.

Together, we can create a place where our seniors thrive – right here on the edge of the Salish Sea.